Apparatus for measuring depths of wells



Apr. 10, 1923. 1,451,130

C. E. VAN ORSTRAND Filed June 2G, 1920 r uw gwvmatoz @lifter wu;

Patented pr. l0, 1923.

narran stares CHARLES E.

raam Frith.

APPARATUS FOR MEASURING DEPTHS 0F WELLS.

Application filed June 26,

T o all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. vAN OR- s'rRAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Measuring Depths of Wells, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for measuring depths of wells, such as oil, gas, artesian and the like.

Among the objects of this invention is to provide an apparatus whereby measurements of high precision may be obtained and where.

by accurate results may be obtained when the measuring is intrustedto unskilled labor. A further object of this invention is to provide a device whereby accurate measurements may be performed in a short space of time and requiring substantially a minimumof labor and attention on the part of the operator. A still further object of this invention is to provide means for obtaining accurate measure-ments when the cable is subject to vibrations as it is lowered into or raised from the well, the means being easil brought to the sand line andY so positioned7 as not to interfere with the well drilling operations.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the preferred embodiment of this invention; Fig. 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an elevation, partly in section,of a modified form of apparatus; Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the modification shown in Fig. 3.

The preferred form of device consists of the basel having pivoted thereto a swinging member 2 comprising the side bars 3. Another swinging member 4 comprising the side bars 5 depends from the upper parts of the bars 3. A pair of wide flatfaced wheels 6 is mounted on the shafts 7 which are journaled in the bars 5. A shaft 8 passing through the upper portions of the bars 5 is supported in the grooves 9 at the upper portions of by which the member 4 is swung from the member 2. Each bar 3 may be provided at its upper portion with a recess 10 for receiving the projection 11a of the thumb nut 11, and when position the shaft 8 is locked against removal from theV grooves 9, but when the nut 11 is turned so as to wlthdrawthe projection therbars 3 and'thus aor'ds means.

the nut is in this secured 1920. seriai'No. 391,890.

l1a from the recess 10, the shaft 8 carrying the frame 4 may be lifted out of the grooves 9 in the bars 3. Springs 12, easily detachable from the side bars of the members 2 and 4, serve to draw the lower parts of the members toward each other.

A recording wheel 13 is mounted upon the shaft 16 supported by the side bars 3 and this wheel carries the gear 19 which engages a pinion 19a of the recording device 20 upon the bar 3. The shaft 16 also supports the swinging arms 14 which carry the scraper 15, the spring 17 and stop 18'servinw to keep the scraper in proper position.

he face of the recording wheel 13 should 4 face wide and flat the contact with the cable lace, but permits is notalways in the same.

e cable and thus slight sidewise motion of t minimizes local wearing.

In operation of the device, the framework 1 is attached by suitablel means to the ground G or else to a convenient part of the framework of the well, and the member 2 swung so that the cable or sand line 'R will be positioned between the side bars 3, as shown in Fig. 1. rlhe member 4 is then attached to the member 2 and the springs 12 fastened to the members 2 and 4. lt is here' pointed out that the tension of the spring 12 should be sufficient continuously to keep the wheels 6 and 13 against the sand line or cable R, and the wheels 6 should be so spaced that the sand line or cable will be at a substantially straight tangent to the recordihg wheel 13. As the sand line or cable is moved, its contact with the wheel 13 causes the latter to revolve, and thus operate the recorder 20 which may be adjusted to read directly the length of cable contacting the wheel 13.

In measuring depths of wells, a suitable means is provided to indicate to the operator when -the rope reaches the bottom of the In operating the sand line in oil drill- 4ing operations, the cable often shows local and as thecasing head is generally in use weakening or break and it is desired to know how much cable to replace. This maybe accomplished with this measuring device since the device may be applied to the middle as well as to the end of the cable or sand line. The device is brought into contact with the line and as the line is withdrawn from the well, its length is shown by the recorder 20.

' In the modified form shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the swinging mechanism or carriage is supported by the frame 2l, connected either to the ground, the headache post, or other suitable part of the drilling machinery and consists of the arm 22 carrying the recording wheel 13, the arm 24 carrying the wheels 6 and the connecting arm or link 23. In this modification, additional means are provided to keep the recording wheel free from dirt and sand. Referring more particularly to F ig. 4, there is mounted on a portion 25 of the top of the frame 2l, a scraper 26 engaging the cable or sand line R. The pins 28 connected to the base of the scraper 26 and operating in the slots27 i-n connection with the springs 29 effect smooth operation of the scraper. The scraper 26 may be made in one or more parts, but I prefer to have same of two portions so as to permit of easy attachment to the cable.

Tn both modifications herein carriage mechanism is yielding, and when the cable vibrates, as it very often does, the mechanism will yield to one side or the disclosed, the

" other, but the cable will always maintain continuous contact with the recording wheel. This eliminates any possible error from broken contact of the cable and measuring wheel. A fixed wheel cannot obviate `this difficulty owing to the transverse oscillatory motion of the cable. y

Tt willbe observed that the member 4 may be readilyV removed by merely disconnecting the springs, turning the nut 11 so as to withdraw the projection l1a from the recess 10 and lifting the shaft 8 from the slots 9. There is little or no tendency for the shaft 8 to rise out of the slots 9 when the device is in use, but the specially constructed.

nut 1l insures against upward movement of the shaft 8 from the slots 9.

en operating this measuring device in connection with oil drilling, the ba-iler may be removed without disconnecting the base vl from `its support. This feature is highly desirable in making temperature measurements and in drilling operations when depths or lengths of portions of cable are frequently required.

This deviceis readily adapted to the sand line when a casing head is used in drill work when the drill penetrates pay sand, this arrangement becomes very essential and useful for obtaining the total depthl of the well.

' gent to the recording The present invention is not limited to the specific details disclosed in the illustrations here given and in View of the numerous modifications which may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, I desire that only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the followingclaims:

T claimas my invention:

l. Tn an apparatus for measuring depths of wells, a support, a frame hinged thereto, and constrained to substantially vertical, plane movement, a recording wheel on said frame and mea-ns pivotally connected to said frame for maintaining a cable subject to vibrations in continuous Contact with `and at substantially a straight tangent to said recording wheel, said means admitting movement of said cable across said recording wheel without changing the relative positions of said recording wheel and said means.

2. lin an apparatus for measuring depths ofwel1s,a support, a swinging frame hinged to said support and constrained yto substantially vertical, plane movement, a recording wheel upon said swinging frame, a second frame pivotally connected to said swinging frame and means on said sec-ond frame for maintaining a cable subject to vibrations in continuous contact with and at substantially a straight tangent to'said recording wheel.

3. Tn an apparatus for measuring depths of wells, a support, a frame hinged thereto and constrained to substantially vertical, plane movement, a wide, flat and hard-faced recording wheel upon said frame and means pivotally connected to said frame for maintaining a cable subject to vibrations in continuous contact with and at straight tangent to said recording wheel.

Tn an apparatus for measuring depths of wells, a supporting base, a carriage hinged thereto and constrained to substantially vertical, plane movement, a recording wheel on said carriage and in contact with the san'd'line and means for maintaining the sand line in continuous contact with `and at substantially a straight tangent to the recording wheel, when the said line undergoes vibration. Y

5. Tn an apparatus for measuring depths .of wells, a support, a carriage hinged thereto and having a recording wheel in contact with lthe sand line and means comprising a pair of wheels and a resilient member for maintaining the sand line incontinuo-us contact with and at substantially a straight tanwheel when. the sand line undergoes vibrations. 1

6. lin an app-aratus for measuring depths of wells, a support, a carriage hinged thereto and having a wide, flat'and hard-faced recording wheel in contact with the sand line and means comprising a pair of .wheels and a resilient member drawing said lpair of Wheels toward said recording wheel for maintaining the sand line in continuous contact with "and 'at substantially a straight tangent to the recording wheel, when the sand line undergoes Vibrations.

7 In anapparatus for measuring depths of oil wells, a support, a carriage hinged thereto and having a wide, flat and hardfaced recording wheel in contact with theV sand line and means comprising a pair of wide, flat wheels and a resilient member drawing said pair of wheels toward said recording wheel for maintaining the' sand line in continuous contact` with the recording wheel when the sandl line undergoes vibrations.

8. In an apparatus for measuring depths of Wells, a supporting base, a carriage hinged thereto and lcomprising two members detachable from and pivoted to each other, one of said members .carrying -a recording wheel and the other member carrying a pair of wheels, and resilient means for drawing said'p-air of wheels toward the recording wheel.

9. In an apparatus for measuring depths of wells, a supporting base, a carriage hinged thereto and 4comprising two members detachable from and pvoted to each other, one of said members carrying a wide, ilat and hard-faced recording wheel and the other member carrying a pair of wheels, and resilient vmeans for drawing said pair of wheels toward the recording wheel. Y

10. In an apparatus for measuring depths to said base, said carriage having a recording wheel, and means for maintaining a cable subjectto vibrations in continuous contact with and at substantiallyl a straight tangent to said recording wheel, said means comprising a pair of wheels and resilient means drawing said pair of wheels toward said recording wheel. 1 v

11. In an apparatus for measuring depths of wells, a supporting base attachable to the framework of the well, a carriage hinged to said base, said carriage having a wide, fiat and. hard-faced recording wheel, and means for maintaining a cable subject tovibrations in continuous contact with and at substam.

tialiy a straight tangent to said recording wheel, said means comprising a pair of -wheels and resilient means drawing said pair of wheels to said recording wheel.

12. In an apparatus for measuring depths of wells, a supporting base, a carriage hinged thereto and having a wide, flat and hard-faced recording wheel in contact with i the sand line, a scraper upon said carriage and engaging said wheel and means Jfor maintaining the'sand line in continuous contact with yand at substantially a straight tangent to the sand line when the latter undergoes vibrations, said means comprising a pair of wheels and resilient means drawing said pair of wheels to said recording wheel. In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

CHARLES E. VAN oRsrRAND. 

